Michael Friedman, MD

Dr. Friedman is the emeritus Chief Executive Officer of City of Hope, a leading cancer research, treatment and education institution, as well as Director of the organization’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and holder of the Irell & Manella Cancer Center Director’s Distinguished Chair. Before leading City of Hope, Dr. Friedman was Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Medical and Public Policy for Pharmacia Corporation and Chief Medical Officer for biomedical preparedness at PhRMA. Additionally, Dr. Friedman has served as Deputy Commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), later serving as Acting Commissioner, and as Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Since 2004, Dr. Friedman serves on the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee which governs the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and oversees the implementation of California’s stem cell research effort. Dr. Friedman is a member of the Board of Directors of MannKind Corporation, Celgene Corporation, Smith & Nephew plc, and Intuitive Surgical Corporation. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Tulane University and the California State Stem Cell Initiative. Dr. Friedman brings to his service some scientific and operational expertise and leadership skills from his extensive background in cancer research and public health as a senior officer of a leading research institution, deputy and acting commissioner of the FDA, and as an executive officer of a major pharmaceutical company.